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Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

The Road to College Golf, run exclusively by PGA Professionals

Press Release

May 10-11, 2003
Land-O-Lakes GC, Coaldale, AB

For Immediate Release


May 12, 2003

TOP FINISHERS AT WCJGT EVENT AWARDED SPOTS IN NEW YORK TOURNAMENT

Coaldale, AB ? Two of Alberta?s most accomplished junior golfers have won spots in a prestigious international tournament in New York after taking top honors at the Western Canada Junior Golf Tour?s WCJGT Junior at Land-O-Lakes Golf Course in Coaldale, Alberta.

Dale Vallely of Lethbridge and Jordan Irwin of Calgary each posted a two-day tally of 143 to tie for the lead in the Boys 17-and-up division and take qualifying berths in the 51st International Junior Masters, which will be held June 23-27 in East Aurora, NY.

The field included players from BC, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and for boys aged 14-17 there were two exemptions to be won into the New York tournament.

Vallely, the reigning Alberta Junior Boys Champion and a member of the 2002 Alberta Junior America?s Cup team, posted scores of 71-72, while Irwin, who was the No. 4-ranked player in Alberta in 2002, shot a 72 the first day and 71 on the second day of the event.

Irwin, who along with Vallely has posted multiple wins in past Tour events, said his consistent ball striking was one of the keys to his strong showing.
?(My) conservative course management led to only one bogey on the second day,? he added.

For Vallely this exemption will mean a second appearance at the East Aurora International Junior Masters, after also qualifying through the WCJGT in 2002.

Calgary?s Darcy MacDonald finished just two strokes behind the leaders, shooting 73-72 for a 145 total.

Other winners at the tournament, played in near-perfect weather conditions, included Bari-Lynn Erais of Lethbridge in the Girls division, Mark Robinson and Brian Wolsey, both of Lethbridge, in the Boys 14-16 division, and Rhys Royer of Calgary in the Boys 13-and-under division.

?I played all right,? said Erais, who had rounds of 77-76 for a 153 total. ?I hit my iron approach shots well, which put less pressure on my putter.?
Erais also attributed her success to her ability to remain cool, even when she was less than satisfied with a particular shot.

Hometown golfer Mackenzie Renner was second among the girls, with scores of 78-79, while 13-year old newcomer Juanita Rico of Calgary took third place, shooting 84-85.

16-year-old Robinson shot 75-72 to finish at 147 alongside Wolsey, who posted scores of 73-74.

Robinson said he was pleased with his overall play, but especially happy with his performance on the greens. ?(My) putting was key,? he said. ?I one-putted most holes.?

Finishing a stroke behind Robinson and Wolsey was Michael Knight of Calgary, who had rounds of 74-74.

Royer, meantime, shot 77-78 to finish at 155 among the younger boys. Jace Barros of Edmonton was second at 164, while Chris Dowling of Calgary ended in third, shooting 87-80.

Division winners in the Sundog Closest-to-the-Pin competition were Irwin, Denielle Neufeld of Lethbridge, and Nick Taylor and Tim Webb, both of Calgary.

The non-profit Western Canada Junior Golf Tour is presented by Boston Pizza and hosts tournaments for boys and girls aged 10 to 23 in four age divisions. The Tour is building on its success in the four Western provinces by expanding into Ontario this summer under the Nationwide Junior Golf Tour banner.

The next WCJGT event is the GOLFWEEK/Titleist-ranked CPGA-Saskatchewan Junior Championship at Deer Valley Golf Estates, near Regina, SK, May 24-25, 2003. For more information, please call 1-877-859-GOLF.